The Hill, one of Washington, D.C.’s premier publications covering Congress, the Administration and politics, named the Distilled Spirits Council’s Kraig R. Naasz, Mark Gorman and David Culver to its 2017 Association Top Lobbyists List.

The Capitol Hill newspaper cited the Council’s efforts on tax reform and reducing the federal excise tax for spirits, wine and beer as a reason for the honor. Currently, the Council-backed Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (H.R. 747/S. 236) enjoys the support of 52 sponsors in the U.S. Senate and 285 sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Our team has an extensive track-record on Capitol Hill of ensuring the fair and equitable treatment of our members’ products and their consumers,” said Distilled Spirits Council President & CEO Kraig R. Naasz. “We have built strong relationships with lawmakers and their staffs and are appropriately seen as a trusted resource on tax, trade and regulatory matters impacting the distilled spirits sector.”

Kraig R. Naasz has served as president & CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council since January 1, 2016. Naasz previously served as the chief executive of the American Frozen Food Institute, The Fertilizer Institute and the U.S. Apple Association. Earlier in his career, Naasz worked as a communications and legislative aide for several members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, as well as the House Agriculture Committee.

Mark Gorman is senior vice president of government relations for the Distilled Spirits Council. Prior to joining the Council in 2000, he served as senior vice president of government affairs for the National Restaurant Association and as a tax legislative assistant for a member of the Senate Finance Committee.

David Culver is vice president of government relations for the Distilled Spirits Council. Prior to starting at the Council in 2003, he worked as a legislative assistant in the U.S. Senate.